Pollachi shame: We will swamp Marina, say students as protests grow

Chennai: Even as rights activists and opposition parties expressed that they would ensure justice in the Pollachi sexual abuse case, expressing that they were ready to take up a state-wide agitation, school and college students took to the streets, bunking classes, demanding quick action.

‘Pollachikku thalaikunivu, Pollachikku thalaikunivu. Kaithu sei Kaithu sei, kutravaaliyai kaithu sei!’ (Shame for Pollachi. Arrest the accused.), shouted students who boycotted classes and staged sit-ins demanding stringent action across the state while hundreds of lawyers and members of women’s organisations joined them.

The statewide agitations can be compared only to the ones that erupted during the jallikattu protests, say activists.

Speaking to the Deccan Chronicle, a women’s rights activist said, “The people have recognised their right to protest. We will swamp Marina and all other landmarks in the state just like during the jallikattu protests and show that we will not be suppressed.”

Students of Sri GVG Visalakshi College for Women in nearby Udumalaipettai protested on Thursday hit the streets shouting ‘We want justice.’ “The culprits should be tortured. The culprits should be shot dead,” said a student demanding the arrest of three more persons allegedly involved in the crime.

“We are not ready to be suppressed. They should be beaten black and blue just like they did to those poor girls in those videos,’ said another girl.

Meanwhile, the State Commission for Women chairperson Kannagi Packianathan, while addressing the press reiterated that anyone and everyone involved in the case regardless of their political affiliations would be investigated if the need arises.

“The SCW is a statutory independent body and we will conduct a separate investigation on anyone if necessary,” she said, in response to a question.